Weekends

I love weekends.

I love Saturdays and the adventures in holds. I love going to Macau on a Saturday. I love it when the foreigners lane is short on both the China and Macau sides. I love meeting people in random coffee shops and having conversions about why they are in Asia. I love walking around in between the narrow streets and seeing Hong Kong Chinese people having a celebration of the day. I love having them serenade me in English then invite me to join offering expensive Chinese beer and BBQ pork. I love watching them use three different languages and have conversations that I only understand a little bit off happening around me.

I love Sundays and International fellowship. I love going to dinner and have random conversations with the fellow Kiwis or Americans in the room. I love icing cakes for the gatherings with my employer and how she trust me to ice the cake without ruining it. I love walking in the rain with her children and having conversations about splashing in the puddles. I love the way that the Kiwis bless our food by using an upbeat children's song to do it- and how they do not judge me when I chuckle about it. I love learning about the "All You Can Eat for 40Yuan Fridays" at a pizza bar in downtown and making plans to visit.

The next few weeks I will watch a people who have played an important role in my first year here leave. My hope is that as the second year approaches I can only come to love weekends even more although the people are different.

Grateful

In a world with internet thieves, mosquitoes and broken washing machines it is hard sometimes to find things to be thankful for. But as I write tonight- there are many things that I am grateful for:

A family whose support for this overseas job has been amazing. I expected nothing less- although at times I am sure they questioned my sanity.
A home church and two loving schools without which I would not be here- financially, spiritually, emotionally, physically.
The people in the US who pray for me on a weekly bases- I have only made it this far because of them.
Friends in the US and in other countries whose facebook messages and e-mails make me smile on a daily bases.
An employer who understands and laughs at my corny jokes.
The security guards in my apartment complex who smile and say "good morning" even if it is the middle of the night.
The group of women that smile, laugh and wave at me as I pass by them in the afternoons and that allow me to play with their children when I am not busy.
The group of men in the morning that play cards in the morning, but stop long enough to let me through on my way to work.
The man who offered me his umbrella in the pouring rain.
The little boy down the street who smiles and waves at me every day.
The women who lives beneath the stairs at Skyline who tells everyone they are pretty as they walk past.
A roommate that does not understand the difference between wireless and virus and says them the same way and allows me to be a bit messy from time to time.
People in Thailand who loved me, let me crash and showed me a what true Thailand was.
The Chappells in Thailand who fed me an amazing meal.
Sarah and her dad letting me stay with them in Hong Kong- even though I was not the best tour guide and lost them for a few hours.
The Vanguard store clerks who smile at me and point to the vegetables they think I should eat.
The man who tries to keep an English newspaper for me everyday, even if I do not get to the stand until late at night.
The woman at the coffee shop who burns my latte but gives me extra whip cream at no charge.
Chinese teachers that think I am crazy at first, but after everything is said and done, nod their approval and thanks.
Students that overwhelm me with their smiles and hugs everyday.

Even with all the up and down emotions and crazy days, I am thankful for the people I have met here and the things I have learned.

Rain

Yesterday was a bad day...at least the afternoon was bad. The rehearsal for our Children's concert happened and it was by far one of the worst things I have ever experienced. Utter chaos does not even come close to what happen. No one knew what was going on- to make matters worst we will not be back in that building until Sunday, the day of the concert. I am trying very hard to believe that everything will turn out ok...but something in the back of my mind wants to hide under the covers until it is all over.

Thankfully- today the rain came. I love rainy days. I have always been a big fan actually- I love the way it brings color and life to things, I love the way the air smells after a good rain fall and I love the coolness it can bring in the middle of a very hot time. But mostly I love rain because it washes things away. To be honest, China is dirty. Lots of dust, lots of trash, just in general dirty. The rain washes things clean and for a short time after, the cleanliness is seen.

I woke up today to my roommate saying that school was closed due to the weather- sometimes if the winds and rain get too bad parents can not bring their children into school. Most of the parents ride scooters or motorbikes- so for safety reasons, they stay home. If the majority of students stay home, we have to close the school. It was actually a blessing in so many ways- giving rest to the students who are tired and trying to remember all their lines, and giving us time to better prepare for Sunday.

So I love rainy days- because I know the next day will more than likely bring sunshine- yesterday is gone and all I can do is learn from the mistakes that's happened and become better for it.

Hope

Sitting here at the Shangri-la hotel, I am aware that I have several things to do before going to practice for the English concert this afternoon. I am also painfully aware of the four people glaring at me to get off of the computer. My head is starting to pound from the group of loud Chinese business men sitting at a nearby table and all I can think is that my parents will be here in a week.

Life will bring many changes over the next year- of that I am sure. I am unsure what those changes will be, whether God will allow me to stay here for a year, while providing in unique ways for my finances to be cared for. Whether I will be led further into the world and become part of a different people. Or whether He will open doors back home. Although I am looking forward to see how He provides- I must admit I am finding it harder and harder to trust that this year He will supply the immediate needs of friendship- the end of this loneliness I have battled over the past year. I am becoming more reliant on Him- but so many times, I feel like the man in Pilgrims Progress needing Hope, the companion that finishes the journey. This past year, I have come to understand what faithfulness is and in times when I am most discouraged, how it is important that I remain faithful to the call that has been placed on my life. It would have been easy to give up and go home to a language I can understand and speak and to friends and family I have. But sticking it out for two years was something that I knew I needed to do- because I knew that I would learn more about myself, my faith and life in general. I would trade nothing about this year- and I can only pray that as I go into this next year, Hope comes in with the strength I am still seeking.